[Betaine-enriched beet suppresses hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency in rats]

To investigate the dose-dependent effects of beet powder supplementation on hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deprivation in rats. Methods 48 rats of the Wistar were fed 25% soybean protein diet (25S), choline deprivation in 25S diets (25SCD) with different betaine levels (0. 05% and 0. 1%) and beet powder levels (4. 12% and 8. 24%) corresponds to betaine levels for 10 days, and they were killed by decapitation to obtain blood and livers was subject to analysis the concentration of homocysteine, cysteine and other amino acids, as well as BHMT and CBS activities.

The homocysteine concentration was increased from (11. 8 ± 0. 4) µmol/L to (33. 2 ± 0. 6) µmol/L by choline deprived - 25S diets (P < 0. 05). The choline deprivation-induced enhancement of plasma homocysteine concentration in rats fed 25S diet was significantly suppressed by 0. 10% betaine or 8. 24% beet in a dose dependent manner. Supplementation with betaine or beet significant increased hepatic BHMT activity.

The results indicated that betaine or beet could completely suppress the hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deficiency resulting from stimulating the homocysteine removal by both remethylation and cystathionine formation.